So why did google buy Urchin stats?
 

Not sure why I never thought of this but it just crossed my mind tonight. Urchin used to be like $1,500 or some crazy price and then google bought them an offered it for free. Why would they do this? For one reason and one reason only... because everyone and their mamma uses their tracking including me now when someone leaves google they are almost always being tracked. Stuff like this just proves that google wants to own the internet. This is like big brother is watching you kind of shit.

It's probably more a commercial advantage rather than BB, although with that much data stored it's inevitable that someday it will (or has been) used for something more than aggregate statistical analysis.

I'm surprised they didn't use the google.com domain name (or a subdomain) so that people's google cookies would be presented when someone loads a site with google analytics on it. (Fetching from unrelated domain such as google-analytics.com will not send a*.google.com cookie)

Yep... They want information, on YOUR traffic especially in the click selling business.

Wouldn't let it worry you too much though.

BTW google cookie = unique ID which can tie you (or rather your computer) to services that you use, such as search, gmail etc. I'm sure they can make good guesses with analytics based on IPs and surfer patterns.

Look at stuff you've seen such as "quality score" and minimum bid prices. They want to know how much you're making so that they know they can hit you for more money.

Don't forget Google has also introduced 'history' which phones home for every URL you visit. It already does this if you display PR, but now they've 'legitimised' it as a service that you think you'll need.

there was an article on slashdot outlining the information on the move.. go have a search

Wow, you catch on quick... Google only acquired them 2 1/2 years ago!
... And all your theories were circulated ad nauseum by the time the sale was complete.

So while you're here, can I get your opinion on push technology? I hear it's going to be the next big thing!
:winkwink:

:1orglaugh:thumbsup

Google owns the internet already :)